[SEE: Afghan Village Militias Accused Of Abuses ; SOCOM Boss Discusses “training proxy native forces to overthrow a hostile government”]
U.S. Winds Down Afghanistan Aid Program
Military Pulls Out Development Teams That Had Been Central to War Strategy
BY NATHAN HODGE
JALALABAD, Afghanistan—The U.S. military is ending a massive nation-building experiment in Afghanistan, shutting down teams that have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into roads, schools and administrative buildings in the country’s hinterlands.
The shutdown, part of the withdrawal of U.S. and coalition forces over the next year, will mark the end of a hearts-and-minds campaign that has been central to the military’s strategy.
As part of an effort to improve the reach and reputation of Afghanistan’s central government, the U.S. and its allies set up over two dozen Provincial Reconstruction Teams around the country to dispense development aid and …
